Systems and methods implementing automated shipment status tracking

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods which facilitate automated querying of shipping services status information using a rules based engine are disclosed. A shipping status query engine of embodiments implements various rules for intelligently querying one or more shipping service provider systems for information regarding the status of shipped items. Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping status query engine, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queries for a very large number of shipped items. Having such automated access to updated status information for the shipped items, additional functionality may also be supported, such as to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc., upon detecting certain events and/or failure to detect certain events. Moreover, embodiments may be adapted to utilize the updated status information to initiate actions with respect to particular shipments based upon detected events and/or failure to detect certain events.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, and hereby claims benefit ofpriority to, and commonly assigned U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/082,393 entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLOUD-BASEDAPPLICATION ACCESS TO RESOURCES,” filed Nov. 20, 2014, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to shipment tracking and, moreparticularly, to obtaining and utilizing status information regardingitems being shipped by one or more shipping service providers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The shipment of items, such as letters, flats, and parcels, via variousshipping service providers, such as the United States Postal Service(USPS), United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (FedEx), Dalsey,Hillblom and Lynn (DHL), and local and regional couriers, has beencommonplace for years. With the advent of the Internet and the advent ofinnumerable e-commerce merchants, not only have the number of itemsshipped increased appreciably in recent years, but so too have thenumber of shippers and recipients of such items.

Often a shipper, such as a “brick and mortar” merchant, an onlinemerchant, or an electronic marketplace (e.g., eBay, Amazon Marketplace,etc.) seller, or a recipient, such as a purchaser, a client, or giftrecipient, is desirous of information regarding the progress of an itemthrough the stream of shipped items (referred to herein as “mailstream”, whether with reference to the services of a postal service orother shipping service provider). Accordingly, shipping serviceproviders have often provided tracking numbers in association with ashipment, whereby one or more such tracking numbers may be entered intoa user interface (e.g., a web page hosted by the shipping serviceprovider) in order to query the shipping service provider as to the lastreported status of the shipment. For example, as personnel and/orequipment of the shipping service provider handles shipped items, abarcode or other information from the item may be scanned and thus thethen current disposition of the shipped item in that shipping serviceprovider's mail stream recorded in a database. The relevant entry for aparticular shipment may be accessed, using a corresponding trackingnumber for the shipment and the aforementioned user interface, and theuser may then be provided information regarding the last recorded statusof the shipment. It can readily be appreciated that obtaininginformation regarding the status of a large number of shipped items canbe quite tedious.

Various systems have been developed for use in managing the shipment ofitems. For example, shipping management systems, such as the SHIPSTATIONshipping management system provided by Auctane LLC of Austin Tex.,provide functionality for the management of item orders, managing thepicking and packing of items for order fulfilment, generation ofinvoices, packing slips, manifests, shipping labels, and postage orother prepaid shipping indicia, and tracking of shipment of itemsthrough a shipping service provider. Although such shipping managementsystems may interface with shipping service provider systems, such asthough the use of a shipping service provider application programminginterface (API), in order to facilitate querying the status of a shippeditem, the implementations have not been without challenges. For example,where the shipping management system is being used by a shipper shippinga high volume of items and/or the shipping management system is used bya large number of shippers, obtaining shipped item status informationfrom a shipping service provider's system for the large number of itemsfor which management functionality is provided by the shippingmanagement system may overwhelm or otherwise unacceptably impact theoperation of the shipping service provider's system. For example, if thestatus of all shipments for which shipping management services wereprovided were to be repeatedly queried (e.g., hourly throughout a day),the performance of the shipping service provider systems may be severelyimpacted, possibly even to the point of an inability to satisfactorilyperform basic functions. Accordingly, such shipping management systemshave often supported only individual shipment status queries and/or adhoc (e.g., on-demand) shipment status queries, without accommodatinglarge scale, automated status queries for all or a large portion of theitems for which management functionality is provided.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods whichfacilitate automated querying of shipping services status informationusing a rules based engine. A shipping status query engine ofembodiments implements various rules for intelligently querying one ormore shipping service provider systems for information regarding thestatus of shipped items.

The rules utilized by a shipping status query engine of embodiments ofthe invention may include rules for determining what shipped itemsstatus information is to be queried and rules for determining when suchstatus information is to be queried. For example, rules implemented by ashipping status query engine of embodiments may operate to gradeshipments, such as based upon classes of service, special services,geographic area, shipping service provider, shipper, recipient, etc., orotherwise establish a hierarchy with respect to one or more suchshipment criteria and establish the particular shipments for whichinformation is to be queried and/or a frequency by which informationregarding their status is to be queried. Additionally or alternatively,rules implemented by a shipping status query engine of embodiments mayutilize information regarding a last event for the shipment, a locationof a last event for the shipment, a time of the last event, etc. todetermine if information regarding the status of the shipped item is tobe queried, when status information is to be queried, and/or otheractions to be taken with respect to the shipped item. In operationaccording to embodiments, the frequency by which information regarding ashipped item's status is queried by a shipping status query engine mayvary based upon a last event or other metric.

Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping statusquery engine, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queriesfor a very large number (e.g., thousands and hundreds of thousands) ofshipped items. For example, such a shipping status query engine may beimplemented in association with a shipping management system operable toprovide management of shipped items for one or more high volume shippersand/or a large number of lower volume shippers. Through the intelligentoperation of the shipping status query engine, status information may beautomatically retrieved for a very large number of shipped items forwhich management services are provided by the shipping management systemwithout overwhelming or otherwise unacceptably impacting the operationof the shipping service providers' systems from which the information isobtained, thereby providing improvement in the operation of the computersystem itself. Such intelligence based queries may be performedautomatically repeatedly (e.g., a plurality of times in a day) withrespect to a large number of shipped items to maintain updated statusinformation with respect to most or even all shipped items for whichshipping management services are provided. Such intelligent querying ofstatus information may not include queries for all shipped items in eachquery iteration (e.g., each query may include queries for particularshipped items, classes of shipped items, shipped items having particularlast known events, etc.), although status information for most or allshipped items for which shipping management services are provided may bequeried in the aggregate.

Embodiments may utilize a hybrid status query technique, whereinintelligent querying of shipping service provider systems may besupplemented with the use of bulk status information reporting by theshipping service providers for facilitating updated status informationfor most or all shipped items for which shipping management services areprovided. For example, status information for particular shipped items,classes of shipped items, shipped items having particular last knownevents, etc. may be obtained using queries to the appropriate shippingservice provider systems, while status information for some or all ofthe remainder of shipped items are obtained from a less timely source,such as a bulk status report provided by the shipping service provider.

It should be appreciated that, in operation according to embodiments ofshipping management systems implementing a shipping status query enginein accordance with the concepts herein, users may be provided updatedstatus information with respect to any or all of their shipped items,without requiring the users to manually initiate queries, therebyproviding improvement to the state of the art in the shippingtechnologies. Moreover, having such automated access to updated statusinformation for the shipped items, additional functionality may also besupported. For example, embodiments of a shipping management system maybe adapted to utilize the updated status information to initiatemessaging, such as to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc.,upon detecting certain events and/or failure to detect certain events(e.g., initial scan of the shipment into the mail stream, delivery ofthe item, determination that the item is undeliverable, deliveryguarantee met, etc.) in the lifecycle of shipments. Using updated statusinformation herein, a shipping management system may operate to analyzethe progress of a shipped item through the mail stream and communicatewith a shipper and/or recipient, such as to optimize the chances fordelivery of the shipped item (e.g., notify the recipient of impendingdelivery where a signature is required for delivery, notify a shipperwhere delivery is not possible for particular reasons to facilitate theshipper contacting the recipient, redirecting the shipment, etc.).Embodiments of a shipping management system may be adapted to utilizethe updated status information to initiate actions (e.g., creditrequests for unused postage indicia, reroute undeliverable shipments,provide alternate delivery instructions, etc.), possibly without userinteraction (e.g., based upon preferences, rules based intelligence,etc.), with respect to particular shipments based upon detected eventsand/or failure to detect certain events.

Various information associated with particular shipped items may beutilized by embodiments of the invention for query determinations (e.g.,what and when to query), to initiate messaging, and/or to initiateactions. For example, information such as events of the updated statusinformation, special services to be provided with respect to shippeditems, information regarding how a shipping service provider handlesshipped items or events, information regarding how a shipping serviceprovider provides particular services in a geographic area, etc., may beutilized in accordance with the concepts herein to provide particularmessaging to one or more users, to cause particular actions to be taken,and/or the like.

The tracking of shipped item status provided according to embodiments ofthe invention is not limited to status of the shipped item within themail stream. Embodiments operate to provide pre-shipment statusinformation, such as to provide status information regarding manufactureof items, preparation of items for shipment, and/or other pre-shipmentevents. Moreover, embodiments operate to analyze status information fordetermining when shipped items have actually entered the mail stream, asopposed to merely having been made ready to enter the mail stream. Thus,embodiments of intelligent querying of shipping service provider systemsare enabled to provide a panoptically accurate status tracking.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a system adapted to obtain and utilizestatus information regarding items being shipped by one or more shippingservice providers according to concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a high level flow diagram of operation of a query techniqueimplemented according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of system 100 adapted according to conceptsof the present invention. In particular, system 100 of the illustratedembodiment includes shipping management system 111, operable to providemanagement functionality with respect to item shipment by one or moreshippers, adapted to implement automated shipping status querying withrespect to shipped items. Shipping management system 111 of theillustrated embodiment comprises shipping status query engine 112operable to facilitate intelligent querying of one or more shippingservice provider systems for information regarding the status of shippeditems in accordance with the concepts herein. Shipping management system111 of the illustrated embodiment further comprises database 113operable to store shipment records, such as may be utilized to storestatus information obtained and updated according to embodiments of theinvention.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, shipping management system 111comprises a cloud-based deployment of an application which is stored andexecuted by computing equipment disposed in the “cloud” of network 110.Accordingly, shipping management system 111, and shipping status queryengine 112 and status-based management module 114 thereof, may comprisecomputer executable code executing on one or more processor-basedsystems (e.g., web servers) deployed in network 110. Shipping managementsystem 111 may, for example, comprise a system providing various desiredfunctionality such as in the form of software as a service (SaaS),infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS),unified communications as a service (UCaaS), etc. As a specific example,shipping management system 111 may comprise a shipping management systemoperable to provide the automation of tasks associated with the shipmentof items, including the management of item orders, managing the pickingand packing of items for order fulfilment, generation of invoices,packing slips, manifests, shipping labels, and postage or other prepaidshipping indicia, and/or tracking of shipment of items through ashipping service provider. In accordance with embodiments of theinvention, shipping management system 111 provides a multi-carriershipping management system capable of providing various shippingfunctionality (e.g., rating, shipping indicia generation, packing listprinting, shipping label printing, tracking, carrier pickup request,manifest printing, account management and payment, etc.) for a pluralityof shipping service providers (e.g., the USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, localcouriers, etc.).

It should be appreciated that although single instances of both ashipping management system, a shipping status query engine, andstatus-based management logic are shown for simplicity, embodiments maycomprise any number of such instances of any or all. Moreover, althoughthe illustrated embodiment provides a cloud-based implementation of ashipping management system and associated shipping status query engineand status-based management, the concepts of the present invention areapplicable to other configurations, including locally disposedimplementations, distributed implementations, etc. Furthermore, itshould be appreciated that shipping status query engines and/orstatus-based management logic in accordance with embodiments herein maybe provided and utilized other than in combination with a shippingmanagement system.

Network 110 of the illustrated embodiment provides communication linksfacilitating the communication between various systems and components ofsystem 100, such as recipient and/or shipper systems (e.g., user devices120A-120D), shipping service provider systems (e.g., server 161), andshipping management system 111. Accordingly, network 110 may compriseany number of network configurations, such as the Internet, an intranet,the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a local area network(LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), acellular network, a wireless network, a cable transmission network,and/or the like.

User devices 120A-120D may be utilized by one or more shippers (e.g.,merchant, manufacturer, e-commerce seller, etc.) and/or one or morerecipients (e.g., a purchaser, client, gift recipient, etc.) formanagement of shipments, obtaining information regarding shipments, andthe like. User devices 120A-120D of embodiments comprise processor-basedsystems (e.g., a terminal in the form of one or more computers,workstations, kiosk terminals, portable processor-based devices,servers, etc.) operable under control of one or more instruction sets(e.g., software, firmware, applet, etc.) adapted to cooperate withshipping management system 111 to provide desired functionality, such asthe aforementioned exemplary shipping management functionality. Userdevices 120A and 120B of the illustrated embodiment, for example,comprise computer systems having a processor, memory, and input/outputto enable interaction with shipping management system 111 for providingat least some portion of functionality available through operation ofsystem 100. User device 120C of the illustrated embodiment comprises atablet device having a processor, memory, and input/output to enableinteraction with shipping management system 111 for providing at leastsome portion of functionality available through operation of system 100.User device 120D of the illustrated embodiment comprises a smart phonehaving a processor, memory, and input/output to enable interaction withshipping management system 111 for providing at least some portion offunctionality available through operation of system 100. Thecommunication links between the user devices and the other nodes ofsystem 100 (e.g., shipping management system 111, computing resources130A-130D, other ones of user devices 120A-120D, etc.) may comprisewired links (e.g., as illustrated for user devices 120A and 120B) orwireless links (e.g., as illustrated for user devices 120C and 120D), aswell as combinations thereof. It should be appreciated that, althoughthe illustrated embodiment shows a representative example of the numberand configuration of user devices as may be utilized with respect tosystem 100, the concepts of the present invention are not limited toapplication to the particular number or configuration of user devicesshown.

Server 161 may be utilized by one or more shipping service providers(e.g., the USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, local courier, etc.) for facilitatingand/or managing the providing of shipping services, such as forproviding shipment of items through the mail stream, as represented bymail stream 150 moving shipped item 151 from point of origin 160A todestination point 160C via processing point 160B. Server 161 ofembodiments comprises one or more processor-based systems (e.g., webserver, blade server, server farm, etc.) operable under control of oneor more instruction sets (e.g., software, firmware, applet, etc.)adapted to provide information to shipping management system 111facilitating desired functionality, such as the aforementioned exemplaryshipping management functionality. Sever 161 of the illustratedembodiment, for example, may comprise a computer system having aprocessor, memory, and input/output to enable interaction with shippingmanagement system 111 for facilitating at least some portion offunctionality available through operation of system 100. Thecommunication links between the server and the other nodes of system 100(e.g., shipping management system 111, item processing resources162A-162C, user devices 120A-120D, etc.) may comprise wired links (e.g.,as illustrated between server 161 and network 110) or wireless links(e.g., as illustrated for item processing resources 162A and 162C), aswell as combinations thereof. It should be appreciated that, althoughthe illustrated embodiment shows a representative example configurationof a single shipping service provider system for simplicity, theconcepts of the present invention are not limited to application to theparticular number or configuration of shipping service provider devicesshown. In particular, in a multi-carrier shipping management systemembodiment, a plurality of shipping service provider systems (e.g., aplurality of servers, similar to server 161, and attendant resources,such as item processing resources 162A-162C) may be utilized.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that user devices 120A-120D andserver 161 of embodiments comprise processor-based systems operatingunder control of one or more instruction sets (e.g., software, firmware,applet, etc.) to provide operation as described herein. Suchprocessor-based systems may comprise a central processing unit (CPU)(e.g., a processor from the PENTIUM or CORE line of processors availablefrom Intel Corporation), memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), flash memory, disk memory, optical memory, etc.)storing the aforementioned one or more instruction sets and/or otherdata used herein, and appropriate input/output circuitry and devices(e.g., network interface card (NIC), keyboard, digital pointer, displayscreen, peripheral interface, microphone, speaker, wireless interface,etc.).

Various peripherals and other resources useful in providingfunctionality available through or facilitating operation of system 100may be coupled to or otherwise in communication with devices ofembodiments of system 100. For example, resources, such as one or moreprinters (e.g., thermal printer, ink printer, laser printer, etc.),imaging device (e.g., optical scanner, barcode scanner, handheldscanner, camera, biometric sample scanner, etc.), scale (e.g.,electronic scale, digital scale), memory device (e.g., optical diskdrive, hard disk drive, solid state disk drive, etc.), and/or the like,may be provided for use with any or all of the foregoing processor-basedsystems according to embodiments herein. Computing resources 130A and130B, shown in the illustrated embodiment as printers (e.g., printer forprinting proof of payment indicia, bills of lading, manifests, receipts,shipping labels, etc.) are shown as being coupled to user devices 120Aand 120B, respectively. Similarly, computing resource 130C, shown as ascale (e.g., an electronic scale for weighing items for shipping), andcomputing resource 130D, shown as an imaging device (e.g., a scanner forobtaining images of shipping items, for scanning barcodes, for scanningaddresses or other shipping item information, etc.), are shown as beingcoupled to user device 120A of the illustrated embodiment. Itemprocessing resources 162A-162C, shown as imaging devices (e.g., ascanner for obtaining images of shipping items, for scanning barcodes,for scanning addresses or other shipping item information, etc.), areshown as being disposed for use at various locations (e.g., point oforigin 160A, processing point 160B, and destination point 160C) alongthe path of the mail stream for a particular shipping service provider.Such item process resources are preferably coupled to, or communicatewith (whether in real-time or from time-to-time) shipping serviceprovider systems, such as sever 161, for use in managing, tracking, orotherwise facilitating the providing of shipping services with respectto shipped items (e.g., shipped item 151 being shipped from point oforigin 160A to destination point 160C). Of course, configurations anddeployments of resources different than that shown may be utilizedaccording to embodiments of the invention. For example, a shippingservice provider may employ additional or alternative configurations ofresources, such as may include scales, printers, memory devices, etc.,at various points in association with a mail stream.

Shipping service providers may provide services for movement of itemsbetween various points, whereby an item is introduced into a stream ofshipped items of one or more shipping service providers. The process ofproviding such shipping services is represented in part in FIG. 1 byshipped item 151 being introduced into mail stream 150 at point oforigin 160A (e.g., a manufacturer's location, a warehouse location, afulfilment house location, etc.). For example, at point of origin 160A,shipping service provider personnel (e.g., a route carrier) or equipment(e.g., drone) may physically retrieve one or more shipped items (e.g.,shipped item 151) and initiate its transport in the mail stream. Suchshipping service provider personnel and equipment may utilize one ormore item processing resources, such as item processing resource 162A,to scan the shipped items for billing and accounting purposes,validation purposes, collecting origination and/or destinationinformation, tracking, etc. The information obtained from or inassociation with shipped item 151 may thus be provided to a shippingservice provider system (e.g., server 161) for analysis, processing,reporting, and/or storage (e.g., within database 163).

The shipped items may be processed or otherwise handled at a number ofpoints associated with the mail stream. For example, shipped items maybe sorted, routed, grouped for transport, etc. at one or more shippingstations. Such handling of shipped items is represented by processingpoint 160B where shipping service provider personnel (e.g., mailhandlers) or equipment (e.g., automated sorters, conveyers, etc.)handles shipped items (e.g., shipped item 151) for facilitating itscontinued transport in the mail stream. One or more item processingresources, such as item processing resource 162B, may be utilized toscan the shipped items for various purposes. The information obtainedfrom or in association with processing of shipped item 151 may thus beprovided to a shipping service provider system (e.g., server 161), suchas to update or augment data therein (e.g., within database 163). Itshould be appreciated that, although a single processing point is shownwith respect to mail stream 150 for simplicity, any number of suchprocessing points may be provided in a mail stream, any or all of whichmay provide for the same and/or different processing operations withrespect to shipped items.

The shipped items are preferably ultimately transported to an intendedrecipient. For example, shipping service personnel may attempt deliveryof shipped items at a respective delivery point. Such delivery, orattempted delivery, of shipped items is represented by destination point160C where shipping service provider personnel (e.g., a route carrier)or equipment (e.g., drone) may physically deliver or attempt to deliverone or more shipped items (e.g., shipped item 151). One or more itemprocessing resources, such as item processing resource 162C, may beutilized to scan the shipped items for various purposes. The informationobtained from or in association with delivery or attempted delivery ofshipped item 151 may thus be provided to a shipping service providersystem (e.g., server 161), such as to update or augment data therein(e.g., within database 163).

The shipping service provider, the shipper, the recipient, and/or othersmay utilize information regarding the progress of an item through themail stream for various purposes, including management, monitoring, andtracking of the shipment. For example, the relevant entry or entrieswithin database 163 for shipped item 151 may be accessed using atracking number corresponding to the shipment including shipped item151. Using such tracking numbers, a user may be provided informationregarding the last recorded status of the shipment as it progressesthrough the mail stream. Accordingly, embodiments of system 100 areadapted to provide automated querying of shipping services statusinformation. For example, the illustrated embodiment of shippingmanagement system 111 includes shipping status query engine 112 operableto facilitate automated querying of shipping services status informationin accordance with the concepts herein.

Shipping status query engine 112 of embodiment of the inventioncomprises a rules based engine for controlling status queries withrespect to a large number of shipped items, such as most or all itemsfor which shipping management system provides management services, mostor all items shipped by a particular shipper, most or all items shippedto a particular recipient, etc. For example, shipping status queryengine 112 of embodiments implements various rules for intelligentlyquerying one or more shipping service provider systems, such as server161, for information regarding the status of shipped items, such as maybe stored in database 163. In operation according to embodiments,shipping status query engine 112 provides a scheduler for tracking a setof tracking numbers. As new tracking numbers are generated or otherwiseobtained (e.g., in shipping management system 111), the tracking numbers(or some portion thereof) may be scheduled for an initial tracking event(e.g., 2 hours following creation) by operation of shipping status queryengine 112. When the shipping status query engine of embodimentsdetermines a shipment is ready to track, a tracking call may beperformed with the relevant system or systems (e.g., one or more serversof the appropriate shipping service providers, such as USPS, FedEx, UPS,etc.). If no new or updated status information is found, the shipmentmay be rescheduled for one or more subsequent queries a small amount oftime in the future by the status query engine (e.g., using a time offsetand/or query frequency determined as described below). If, however, newor updated status information is found, the shipping status query engineof embodiments may operate to determine a next query time (e.g., using atime offset determined as described below) based on various of thefactors as described herein (e.g., carrier shipping service, distancefrom current location to destination, historical average time fromcurrent location to next destination, etc.).

The rules utilized by shipping status query engine 112 of embodiments ofthe invention may include rules for determining what shipped itemsstatus information is to be queried, rules for determining when suchstatus information is to be queried, rules for determining actions to betaken in response to particular status determinations, etc. Such rulesmay, for example, be stored in database 113 of embodiments.

A rules engine, as may be implemented by or in association with shippingstatus query engine 112 of embodiments, may comprise multiple facets.For example, a rules engine of embodiments includes an initiating eventaspect, a shipment qualifying criteria aspect, and an actions to performaspect. An initiating event aspect of such a rules engine may, forexample, operate to cause shipping status query engine to initiateaction upon determination that one or more shipping related event (e.g.,generation of a shipping label, a package being shipped, an in transitevent, an out for delivery event, a delivered status event, a deliveryexception status event, etc.) has occurred. A shipment qualifyingcriteria aspect of a rules engine may designate criteria to qualifyshipments for particular action initiated by the shipping status queryengine based on the characteristics of the shipments (e.g., any packagefor which a shipping label has been generated and which has had aninitial scan by the shipping service provider, any package which isshipped via “First Class Mail” and which remains more than 1 day or 100miles from the intended destination, any package where “Insurance waspurchased”, any package where “Signature confirmation was requested”,etc.). An actions to perform aspect of a rules engine may specify theparticular actions the shipping status query engine is to perform (e.g.,actions performed when the selected event(s) occur for any packagematching the criteria specified). Actions that may be initiated inaccordance with such rules may include, for example, determining a timeoffset for a next query, determining a query frequency for subsequentqueries, initiating a status query, determining what information toquery, determining what system to query or what other source(s) ofinformation to be used, determining a current status from particularavailable information, etc.

Using such rules-based querying of embodiments, various informationassociated with particular shipped items may be utilized for querydeterminations (e.g., what and when to query). For example, informationsuch as events of the updated status information, special services to beprovided with respect to shipped items, information regarding how ashipping service provider handles shipped items or events, informationregarding how a shipping service provider provides particular servicesin a geographic area, etc., may be utilized in accordance with theconcepts herein. Utilization of such information in accordance with theconcepts herein provides flexibility to analyze the characteristics ofthe shipments, the last event reported for the shipments, the servicelevel for the shipments, the shipping service provider, the shipper, therecipient, and/or like to intelligently determine when to query initialand/or updated data for shipments. The intelligent queries providedthrough the use of rules by shipping status query engine 112 ofembodiments thus operate to intelligently determine when is appropriateto query initial and/or updated status information for particularshipped items, thereby facilitating such operations for a very largenumber of items and shipments.

Rules implemented by shipping status query engine 112 may operate tograde shipments, or otherwise establish a hierarchy of one or moreshipment criteria, for determining if information regarding thoseparticular shipments is to be queried from a corresponding shippingservice provider's system, for example. In operation according toembodiments, logic of shipping status query engine 112 may gradeshipments based upon classes of service, special services, geographicarea, shipping service provider, shipper, recipient, etc. For example,item shipments which are associated with a relatively low level ofshipping services, such as first class mail, ground parcel service,economy class letter/parcel service, etc., may be graded lower than itemshipments which are associated with a higher level of shipping services,such as priority mail, express mail, overnight delivery, two daydelivery service, express parcel service, etc. A number of distinctgrades may be utilized, such as to assign a unique grade to each levelof service provided by the one or more shipping service providerssupported, to provide a graduated range of tranches into which shipmentshaving similar service characteristics (e.g., delivery time, specialhandling, etc.) are assigned, to assign grades in association withspecial services to be provided with respect to shipments, and/or thelike. Such grades may be stored in association with records for theparticular shipments in database 113, for example.

Embodiments may base determinations regarding the particular shipmentsfor which information is to be queried, particular events or phases inthe shipping cycle for which information is to be queried, and/or afrequency by which information regarding their status is to be queriedat least in part upon the aforementioned grade (or other hierarchicaldesignation) assigned to the shipment and/or one or more shipmentcriteria thereof. As an example of the utilization of the aforementionedgrading, first class mail shipments may be assigned a low grade (e.g., agrade of “1” on an ascending scale), whereby this low grade is utilizedby shipping status query engine 112 to determine that a query is not tobe made at a current period or phase in the shipping cycle (e.g., aftera last status indicated “out for delivery”) and/or a frequency at whichone or more queries is to be made (e.g., a first query to determine ifthe item has entered the mail stream is to be made no sooner than 8hours after a shipping label/postage indicia was generated, queries forstatus updates are to be made no more frequently than every 12 hoursafter the item is reported as “in transit”, etc.). In contrast,overnight shipments may be assigned a high grade (e.g., a grade of “10”on the aforementioned ascending scale), whereby this high grade isutilized by shipping status query engine 112 to determine that a queryis to be made at a current period or phase in the shipping cycle (e.g.,after a last status indicated “out for delivery”) and/or a frequency atwhich one or more queries is to be made (e.g., a first query todetermine if the item has entered the mail stream is to be made no laterthan 2 hours after a shipping label/postage indicia was generated,queries for status updates are to be made no less frequently than every4 hours after the item is reported “in transit”, etc.).

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the invention may utilizesuch shipment criteria (e.g., the aforementioned class of service (theexamples above being “first class mail” and “overnight” and/or othershipment criteria such as special services, geographic area, shippingservice provider, shipper, recipient, etc.) directly in an establishedhierarchy rather than providing a grading per se. Moreover, althoughexemplary embodiments are described above with reference to suchshipment criteria information used in combination with informationregarding a current period or phase in the shipping cycle, embodimentsmay omit such additional information or utilize other forms ofadditional information (e.g., information regarding an expected orestimated current time and/or distance to delivery of the shipment, suchas may be determined as described below).

As can be appreciated from the foregoing examples, shipping status queryengine rule implementations may utilize information regarding a lastevent to determine if information regarding the status of the shippeditem is to be queried, when status information is to be queried, and/orother actions to be taken with respect to the shipped item. Inparticular, the above examples include instances where a last reportedevent, such as “in transit” or “out for delivery”, is utilized incombination with the grade assigned to the shipment for controllingqueries herein. Such information regarding a last event may likewise beutilized according to embodiments without associated gradinginformation, if desired. Likewise, information regarding a grade orother hierarchical designation assigned to a shipment may be utilizedaccording to embodiments without associated a last event information, ifdesired. Additionally or alternatively, rules implemented by a shippingstatus query engine of embodiments may utilize information regarding alocation of a last event for the shipment, a time of the last event,etc. to determine if information regarding the status of the shippeditem is to be queried, when status information is to be queried, and/orother actions to be taken with respect to the shipped item. For example,historical data collected regarding the performance of shipping servicesin a particular location or geographic area may be utilized inestablishing whether a subsequent status query should be made (e.g.,historical information regarding particular tasks performed/notperformed at the location may be used) and/or the timing or frequency ofone or more subsequent status queries (e.g., historical informationregarding the rapidity at which services are performed at the locationmay be used). Similarly, information regarding the time at which aparticular event was reported as having been performed may be utilizedfor determining if or when status queries are to be made according toembodiments. For example, information regarding the processes performedwith respect to a shipping service may be utilized in combination with atime at which a particular event was reported as having been performedin establishing when a next status query is to be made.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned time at which aparticular event was performed is independent of, and may be appreciablydifferent than, a time at which a status query was performed to obtainsuch information. Accordingly, a shipping status query engine mayoperate to initiate a subsequent status query very close in time to astatus query in which a particular event was reported as havingtranspired, where the relationship between the then present time and thetime at which the event was reported as having transpired suggest that anext event of significance or interest may occur. Operation inaccordance with such embodiments is adapted to detect a change in statusmore accurately than as a result of subsequent queries based upon a timeat which a previous query was made.

As previously mentioned, embodiments may operate to utilize informationsuch as the foregoing grading of shipments, special services, etc. todetermine not only when a query is to be made, but to determine if aquery is to be made (at least in a then current phase of the shippingcycle). It should be appreciated that, although a query to a shippingservice provider system may not be initiated with respect to aparticular shipment, status information may nevertheless be obtained byshipping status query engine 112 of embodiments herein. For example,shipping status query engine 112 may utilize a hybrid status querytechnique, wherein intelligent querying of shipping service providersystems (e.g., server 161) may be supplemented with the use of bulkstatus information reporting (e.g., bulk status report 164) by theshipping service providers for facilitating updated status informationfor most or all shipped items for which shipping management services areprovided. Such bulk status reports may be provided by shipping serviceproviders upon request, periodically, from time-to-time, etc. Theinformation in such bulk status reports may be less timely (e.g., someappreciable amount of time, such as 5 or 6 hours, may have transpiredbetween events reported therein and the time at which the bulk statusreport is made available to users). However, such bulk status reportsmay nevertheless make some quality of status information available withrespect to shipments serviced by the shipping service provider to userswithout the impact upon shipping service provider system performanceassociated with individual queries for information for each shipmentreported therein. Accordingly, shipments for which less timely statusinformation may be satisfactory (e.g., shipments for which the statuschanges more slowly) may be provided status update information using oneor more bulk status reports.

As an example, status information for particular shipped items, classesof shipped items, shipped items having particular last known events,etc. (e.g., shipments having an assigned grade above a particularthreshold, particular shipping services such as express mail orovernight shipments, shipments from a particular shipper, shipments to aparticular recipient, etc.) may be obtained by shipping status queryengine 112 using queries to the appropriate shipping service providersystems, such as server 161. In contrast, status information for otherparticular shipped items, classes of shipped items, shipped items havingparticular last known events, etc. (e.g., shipments having an assignedgrade below a particular threshold, particular shipping services such asfirst class mail or ground shipments, shipments from a particularshipper, shipments to a particular recipient, etc.) may be obtained froma less timely source, such as bulk status report 164 provided by theappropriate shipping service provider. It should be appreciated that,although the aforementioned bulk status reports may include informationfor shipments (e.g., all shipments for a particular shipper) in additionto those meeting the criteria for use of the less timely statusinformation according to embodiments, only the information for theparticular shipments meeting the criteria for use of the less timelystatus information be used from the bulk status report while more timelystatus information for other shipments may be queried from server 161 byshipping status query engine 112 according to embodiments herein.

Flow 200 of FIG. 2 shows a high level flow diagram of operation of aquery technique implemented according to embodiments of the presentinvention. It should be appreciated that, although described withreference to a single shipment, operation according to flow 200 ofembodiments may be implemented with respect to a plurality of shipments,whether for one or more shippers, one or more recipients, and/or one ormore shipping service providers.

Flow 200 of the illustrated embodiment includes block 201 whereininformation regarding the shipping of an item is obtained. Suchinformation may include information regarding the shipper, informationregarding the recipient, information regarding the shipping serviceprovider to provide the shipping services, information regarding theshipping services to be provided, information regarding the item to beshipped, information regarding a state of shipment processing by theshipper, and/or the like. Such information, or a portion thereof, may beobtained through shipper and/or recipient interaction with shippingmanagement system 111, such as when a shipper processes an orderincluding the item, generates a shipping label and/or postage indicia,etc. Additionally or alternatively, the foregoing information, or aportion thereof, may be obtained from various sources, such as orderdetail information, user account information, public databases (e.g.,address databases, manufacturer datasheets or specifications, shippingservice provider published services guides, etc.). Moreover, suchinformation, or a portion thereof, may be generated by logic of shippingmanagement system 111, such when logic of shipping status query engine112 operates to grade shipments.

At block 202 of the illustrated embodiment, a time offset from an eventis determined for making a status query with respect to the itemshipment. For example, based upon information regarding the itemshipment obtained in block 201 (e.g., a grade assigned to the shipment,a hierarchy of one or more shipment criteria for the shipment, specialservices to be provided with respect to the shipment, a shipping serviceprovider to provide the shipping services, etc.), a time from a previousevent associated with the shipment after which a status query may bemade to a shipping service provider system regarding the shipment is tobe made may be determined. As a specific example, a time from thegeneration of a shipping label or postage indicia may be determined forquerying the shipping service provider system to determine if theshipment has entered the mail stream (e.g., to determine if an initialscan of the shipped item has been performed). As discussed above, thistime may vary based upon various aspects of the shipment. Moreover,although not specifically shown in flow 200 of FIG. 2, it may bedetermined that status queries to a shipping service provider system arenot to be made with respect to the shipped item (e.g., at the presentphase in the shipping cycle), such as where a hybrid status querytechnique supplements intelligent querying of shipping service providersystems with the use of bulk status information reporting.

The determinations made at block 202 of embodiments of the invention mayadditionally or alternatively include a determination as to a frequencyat which subsequent status queries are to be made with respect theshipment should a change in status not be reported in response to aprevious status query. Like the time offset for the status querydiscussed above, the periodicity of such subsequent status queries maybe based upon information regarding the item shipment obtained in block201. For example, the periodicity for status queries may be determined,or may be determined to be more or less frequent, based upon aparticular phase of the shipment process the shipment is currently in ora last reported status of the shipment. As a specific example, as ashipment is determined to be more near its intended destination, or ismore near the delivery phase of the shipment process, the periodicity ofstatus queries may be decreased (i.e., status queries may be determinedto be made more frequently), according to embodiments of the invention.For example, when a shipment incurs one or more tracking events duringits journey (e.g., arrival at a sorting facility), embodiments mayoperate to determine an expected or estimated time and/or distance todelivery of the shipment (e.g., from the shipment's current location tothe intended destination). The determined time and/or distance todelivery may be utilized in determining when to next attempt, and/or howfrequently to attempt, to track the shipment by issuing a status querywith respect to the shipment.

The aforementioned time offset and/or frequency for subsequent requestsmay be determined according to various techniques according toembodiments of the invention. In accordance with some embodiments inwhich a determination with respect to a shipment being more/less nearits intended destination is used for timing of subsequent queries (e.g.,timing offset and/or frequency), current location information for theshipment (e.g., the zip code, address, latitude and longitude, and/orthe like of a last reported/known location of the shipment, whether thatis the shipping origin, a facility handing the shipment, etc.) andlocation information for the intended destination of the shipment (e.g.,the zip code, address, latitude and longitude, and/or the like of theintended destination) may be utilized to determine a distance, orrelative distance, from which a timing for subsequent queries isdetermined. In operation according to embodiments, the foregoingdistance calculation may be made, for example, using the haversineformula. Embodiments may not utilize precise location information forthe foregoing distance or relative distance determinations. For example,the first 3 digits of a zip code of the current location information andthe first 3 digits of a zip code of the intended destination informationmay be utilized in a distance or relative distance determination (e.g.,a comparison of these truncated zip codes may be utilized to determinethe relative proximity of the shipment to the intended destination, tocalculate a rough distance, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, suchtruncated zip code information may be utilized according to embodimentsto generalize such location information for comparing, for identifying abase of relevant historical data (e.g., to ensure the likelihood thathistorical information will be available that is relevant to a shipmentin question), and/or the like.

Time offset and/or frequency for subsequent requests may be determinedaccording to embodiments based upon analysis in addition to or in thealternative to the foregoing exemplary distance based analysis. Forexample, embodiments may operate to analyze the carrier's deliveryroutes, such as to analyze historical data to predict the next locationusing the carrier's delivery routes (e.g., historical data may suggestcarrier routes may or may not be changing, whereby such information maybe utilized in altering predictions regarding next points in the journeyfor the shipment). The results of such an analysis may be used incombination with other analysis, such as distance analysis. For example,using the aforementioned predicted next location, the distance to thedestination can be calculated to determine a frequency for subsequentstatus queries. Various shipment information may be utilized withrespect to any of the foregoing analysis to provide robust and accuratedeterminations. For example, information regarding the particularshipping service being used may be taken into account in an analysis asroutes and transit methods may play a role in how the package istransported. Similarly, the day of the week and/or time of day of thetracking event can be useful in the analysis to accurately queryhistorical data to determine the next query schedule.

At block 203 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a determination ismade as to whether a time for initiating a status query with respect tothe shipment has transpired. For example, where insufficient time from alast reported event has elapsed, processing may return to block 203 toallow further time to elapse and a further determination as to whether atime for initiating the status query has transpired. If, however,sufficient time from the last reported event has elapsed (e.g.,sufficient time since generation of a shipping label for the gradeassigned to the shipment), processing according to the illustratedembodiment proceeds to block 204 for initiating a status query.

In particular, a status query for the shipment may be made to a shippingservice provider system at block 204 of the illustrated embodiment. Forexample, shipping status query engine 112 may operate to query shippingservices status information for the shipment by interfacing with one ormore shipping service provider systems (e.g., server 161), such asthough the use of one or more shipping service provider API.Additionally or alternatively, shipping status query engine 112 ofembodiments may operate to query systems other than those of a shippingservice provider, such as to query a shipper system, a manufacturersystem, a recipient system, etc. (e.g., where pre-shipment and/orpost-shipment status information is supported) as may be performed usingone or more API adapted for interfacing with such systems. Suchinformation is utilized according to embodiments of the invention toprovide a panoptically accurate status tracking information (e.g.,taking into account information, more than the shipping statusinformation available from a shipping service provider, from whichshipping status is determined). The panoptically accurate statustracking information provided according to embodiments of the inventionis generally more accurate than the status information available fromshipping management systems, and often even more accurate than statusinformation available from a shipping service provider. In particular,embodiments of the invention implement intelligent querying which isoperable not only to provide queries which may be readily made tovarious systems (e.g., without overwhelming or otherwise unacceptablyimpacting the operation of the systems from which the information isobtained, accommodating limitations on data output (often referred to as“throttling”) by the systems from which the information is obtained, butwhich are calculated to be made at a time updated information becomesavailable (e.g., more timely obtaining status information than ad hoc,random, or blind queries as may otherwise be implemented by shippingmanagement systems). Moreover, embodiments of the invention implementintelligence to analyze status information, such as using additionalshipment related information, to accurately determine a status (e.g., toanalyze status information for determining when shipped items haveactually entered the mail stream, as opposed to merely having been madeready to enter the mail stream), whereby the determined status may moreaccurately reflect the status than does information provided by ashipping service provider.

The foregoing status query may be included in a batch of status queries(e.g., for which similar query techniques have been implemented forother shipments in parallel or serially with respect to the aboveshipment) made to one or more systems, whether shipping service providersystems, shipper systems, manufacturer systems, recipient systems, etc.For example, a batch of status queries may be made to a particularshipping service provider system (e.g., using a shipping status API forthe particular shipping service provider's system) for a plurality ofshipments (e.g., a plurality of shipments, for which initial and/orupdated status information is to be queried, being served by a sameshipping service provider) provided management by shipping managementsystem 111. Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of status queriesmay be made to a number of different shipping service provider systems(e.g., using a shipping status API compatible with multiple shippingservice providers' systems and/or using multiple shipping status APIsfor respective shipping service provider's systems) for a plurality ofshipments (e.g., a plurality of shipments, for which initial and/orupdated status information is to be queried, being served by differentshipping service providers) provided management by shipping managementsystem 111. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the status querymay be somewhat delayed from the selected or designated time offset fromthe previous event determined in block 202. Moreover, it should beappreciated that, although the illustrated embodiment of flow 200 showsapplication of the exemplary query technique implemented with respect toa single shipment, embodiments of the invention operate to support aplurality of shipments shipped via multiple channels and/or multiplecarriers. Additionally, although flow 200 of FIG. 2 is described withrespect to automated querying of status information, it should beappreciated that shipping management system 111 also supports manualqueries, such as may be initiated by a merchant/shipper at will.

At block 205 of the illustrated embodiment a determination is made as towhether updated status information was obtained in response to thestatus query. If suitable updated status information is not obtained(e.g., the status has not changed, a next event is not reported, aparticular predetermined event is not reported, etc.), processingaccording to the illustrated embodiment returns to block 203 fordetermining if a time for a subsequent status query has transpired. If,however, suitable updated status information is obtained (e.g., thestatus has changed, a next event in the shipping cycle is reported, aparticular predetermined event is reported, etc.), processing accordingto the illustrated embodiment proceeds to block 206 wherein shippingstatus information is updated.

In particular, embodiments of the invention may operate to update statusinformation in a record of database 113 stored with respect to theshipment. This updated status information may be utilized bystatus-based management module 114 of embodiments to initiate messagingand/or other actions as described herein.

After updating the status information, operation according to flow 200of the illustrated embodiment returns to block 202 for a determinationas to whether and/or when to make further status queries with respect tothe shipment. For example, as previously discussed, whether subsequentstatus queries are made and/or the timing for such status queries maydepend upon a last event for the shipment, as well as othercharacteristics (e.g., the grade assigned to the shipment, theparticular phase in which the shipment is in, the shipping serviceprovider providing the shipping services, the area of the deliverypoint, the particular shipper, the particular recipient, etc.).Accordingly, returning to the processing provided by block 202 of theillustrated embodiment facilitates operation to implement changes forsubsequent queries made with respect to the shipment. Of course, adetermination may be made that the query timing (e.g., initial timeoffset from the previous event and/or frequency for queries thereafter)is to remain unchanged from a previous iteration according toembodiments.

Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping statusquery engine, particularly with the aforementioned hybrid status querytechnique, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queries fora very large number (e.g., thousands and hundreds of thousands) ofshipped items. Shipping status query engine 112 implemented inassociation with shipping management system 111 operable to providemanagement of shipped items for one or more high volume shippers and/ora large number of lower volume shippers may be utilized to provideautomated status queries for all, or some large portion, of the shippeditems under management by shipping management system 111. Through theintelligent operation of shipping status query engine 112, it should beappreciated that querying of status information may not include queriesfor all shipped items in each query iteration (e.g., each query mayinclude queries for particular shipped items, classes of shipped items,shipped items having particular last known events, etc.), althoughstatus information for most or all shipped items for which shippingmanagement services are provided may be queried in the aggregate.

In operation according to embodiments of shipping management systemsimplementing a shipping status query engine in accordance with theconcepts herein, users may be provided updated status information withrespect to any or all of their shipped items, without requiring theusers to manually initiate status queries. Moreover, having suchautomated access to updated status information for the shipped items,additional functionality may also be supported. The illustratedembodiment of shipping management system 111 is adapted to includestatus-based management module 114 utilizing the aforementioned updatedstatus information to provide management functionality with respect tothe shipped items. For example, status-based management module 114 myinitiate messaging with respect to shipped items, such as to providealerts, reminders, notifications, etc., upon detecting certain eventsand/or failure to detect certain events (e.g., initial scan of theshipment into the mail stream, delivery of the item, determination thatthe item is undeliverable, delivery guarantee met, etc.) in thelifecycle of shipments. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments ofstatus-based management module 114 may utilize the updated statusinformation to initiate actions (e.g., credit requests for unusedpostage indicia, reroute undeliverable shipments, provide alternatedelivery instructions, etc.), possibly without user interaction (e.g.,based upon preferences, rules based intelligence, etc.), with respect toparticular shipments based upon detected events and/or failure to detectcertain events.

Similar to shipping status query engine 112, status-based managementmodule 114 of embodiments may implement a rules based engine inproviding management functionality with respect to shipped items. Arules engine, as may be implemented by or in association withstatus-based management module of embodiments, may comprise multiplefacets, such as including an initiating event aspect, a shipmentqualifying criteria aspect, and an actions to perform aspect. Aninitiating event aspect of such a rules engine may, for example, operateto cause status-based management module action to initiate upondetermination that one or more shipping related event (e.g., generationof a shipping label, a package being shipped, an in transit event, anout for delivery event, a delivered status event, a delivery exceptionstatus event, etc.) has occurred. A shipment qualifying criteria aspectof a rules engine may designate criteria to qualify shipments forparticular action initiated by the status-based management module basedon the characteristics of the shipments (e.g., any package that isshipped via “FedEx 2nd Day Air” and “Order value is over $1000”, anypackage where “Insurance was purchased”, any package where “Signatureconfirmation was requested”, etc.). An actions to perform aspect of arules engine may specify the particular actions the status-basedmanagement module is to perform (e.g., actions performed when theselected event(s) occur for any package matching the criteriaspecified). Actions that may be initiated in accordance with such rulesmay include, for example, sending an email message or notification to ashipper and/or recipient, sending a SMS text message to a shipper and/orrecipient, updating a shipper's and/or market place database, etc.Examples of implementing such actions include notifying thepurchaser/intended recipient when their package is out for delivery (andperhaps other particulars, such as that signature confirmation wasrequested), notifying the merchant/shipper when a package incurs adelivery exception, notifying the merchant/shipper when any packagemeeting some criteria (e.g., value exceeding $1000, shipped to aparticular recipient, etc.) is delivered successfully, and sending thepurchaser/intended recipient an email after the package is deliveredasking for feedback/reviews.

The messaging (e.g., to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc.)by status-based management module 114 may comprise transmission ofcommunications such as emails, text messages, telephone calls, socialmedia (e.g., communication via Twitter feeds and Facebook messages ornotification), etc. However, such messaging may additionally oralternatively include providing information within applications (e.g.,client applications, applets, browser based clients, etc.) operable onone or more user devices (e.g., user devices 120A-120D). The providingof such information may comprise initiating a dialog box within suchapplications, dynamically changing a status reported through suchapplications, and the like. Information may be provided to suchapplications by status-based management module 114 using open channelcommunication techniques, such as through implementation of channelgroups, as shown and described in the above referenced patentapplication entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLOUD-BASED APPLICATIONACCESS TO RESOURCES.”

In providing an example of functionality that may be provided throughuse of shipping status information by operation of status-basedmanagement module 114 of embodiments, consider the initial shipping ofan item by a shipper. Often the shipment of an item may essentially beinitiated through the generation of a shipping label and/or postageindicia to be used in facilitating the shipment of the item from theshipper to the recipient. For example, a buyer (recipient) may purchaseone or more items from a seller (shipper) via an electronic marketplace(e.g., eBay, Amazon Marketplace, etc.), whereby the shipper initiatesshipment of the purchased item(s) to the recipient. Often, the shipperreports the shipment of the item(s) to the recipient as a customerservice communication. However, such reports are traditionally basedupon the shipping label or postage indicia having been generated, notthe actual introduction of the item(s) into the mail stream fortransport by the shipping service provider to the recipient. It iscommon for such shipping labels and postage indicia to be generated someappreciable amount of time (e.g., hours and even days) prior to theassociated item(s) actually being introduced into the mail stream (i.e.,prior to their actually having been “shipped”). Such premature reportingof the item having been shipped may lead the recipient to inaccurateexpectations (e.g., believing an item ordered with two-day delivery istwo days from delivery, when in fact the item may not actually begin thetwo day journey until the following day) or to become frustrated whenattempting to obtain information regarding the shipment from theshipping service provider (e.g., a tracking number query to the shippingservice provider may indicate that the tracking number does not exist oris not currently being handled by the shipping service provider).

Logic of status-based management module 114, operable in cooperationwith shipping status query engine 112, may operate to providenotification of initial shipping of an item only upon that item actuallyhaving entered the mail stream according to embodiments herein. Forexample, shipping status query engine 112 may utilize informationregarding a shipping label or postage indicia having been generated foran item shipment to schedule one or more status queries to server 161for obtaining information from which it may be determined that theshipment has actually entered the mail stream (e.g., a status showinginitial carrier scan of the shipping label or postage indicia). Theperiod from when the shipping label or postage indicia event happened tothe initial query for determining if the shipment has entered the mailstream, as well as the frequency at which subsequent queries are made ifan initial query is indeterminate, may be determined based upon theaforementioned grading etc. (e.g., such queries may be made more slowlyfor certain shipments/items, such first class mail and ground parcels,than other shipments/items, such as express mail, priority mail, andovernight letters and parcels). For example, for an item shipped viafirst class mail or ground parcel service, or for a shipment having arelatively low grading, shipping status query engine 112 may wait for arelatively long period of time (e.g., 8 hours) after the shipping labelgeneration event prior to querying server 161 to determine if a mailstream event has occurred with respect to that shipment. If a mailstream event is not detected upon the initial query, subsequent queriesmay be made at relatively long intervals (e.g., time periods of 4 or 8hours). In contrast, for an item shipped via express mail or overnightservice, or for a shipment having a relatively high grading, shippingstatus query engine 112 may wait for a relatively short period of time(e.g., 1 hour) after the shipping label generation event prior toquerying server 161 to determine if a mail stream event has occurredwith respect to that shipment. If a mail stream event is not detectedupon the initial query, subsequent queries may likewise be made atrelatively short intervals (e.g., time periods of 1 or 2 hours).

Shipping status query engine 112 may provide some or all statusinformation obtained with respect to any or all of the shipments undermanagement by shipping management system 111 to status-based managementmodule 114 for providing management functionality. For example, wherethe status information indicates an initial event in the mail stream(e.g., initial carrier scan at point of origin 160A) for theaforementioned shipped item, status-based management module 114 maycontrol messaging with respect to the recipient to provide a shipmentnotification (e.g., providing item shipped status information to anapplication executing upon one or more of user devices 120A-120D,transmitting an email or text to one or more of user devices 120A-120D,etc.). The foregoing messaging is not limited to transmission to arecipient. Embodiments may operate to transmit such messages to theshipper or shipper's system (e.g., for providing confirmation of astatus, for automatically updating records, etc.) as well as a thirdparty or third party's system (e.g., an operator of an electronic marketplace for use in monitoring merchant activities, for reporting to arecipient on behalf of a merchant, etc.).

It should be appreciated that, although perhaps delayed in time somewhatfrom the actual entry into the mail stream, the foregoing shipmentnotification accurately reflects the fact that the item has in factshipped. Accordingly, the recipient's expectations are accuratelymanaged, accurate information is available from the shipping serviceprovider, etc. Through the appropriate selection of the initial queryand query intervals with respect to types of shipments, shippingservice, provider, etc. (e.g., using the aforementioned grading), delaybetween the actual events, such as entry into the mail stream, andreporting or other action may be minimized. For example, embodiments mayutilize statistical and/or historical analysis, such as for particularshippers, shipping service providers, shipping services, geographicareas, time periods (e.g., seasonal), etc., to establish and/or reviseparameters used by shipping status query engine regarding time periodsfor making status queries, events for initiating subsequent statusqueries, and/or the like.

It should be appreciated that, having detected a particular event, suchas the foregoing entry of the shipment into the mail stream, subsequentstatus queries by shipping status query engine 112 regarding theshipment may be conducted at a frequency which is the same or differentthan that discussed above for subsequent queries utilized for detectingthe previous event. For example, after having determined that theshipped item has entered the mail stream, routine status queries forupdating the “in-route” status of the shipment may be performed at afrequency (e.g., daily for first class mail, ground shipments, orshipments having a relatively low grade and in 4 hour increments forexpress mail, overnight shipments, or shipments having a relatively highgrade) different from, and even independent of, the query frequencyimplemented prior to the detected event.

Continuing with the example of functionality that may be providedthrough use of shipping status information by operation of status-basedmanagement module 114 of embodiments, the management functionalityprovided by status-based management module 114 is not limited to thedetection of events (e.g., the above described entry into the mailstream). Management functionality provided according to embodiments ofthe invention may be based at least in part upon failure to detect anevent. For example, postage indicia comprises a prepaid value indiciafor shipping services to be performed which, if unused, results incostly spoilage to the shipper. Similarly, shipping labels often haveprepaid indicia thereon, or otherwise bear prepaid value, which canresult in costly spoilage if unused. Accordingly, logic of status-basedmanagement module 114 may operate to determine that a shipping label orpostage indicia has not been detected in the mail stream. For example,shipping status query engine 112 may operate to monitor pre-shipmentevents, such as generation of shipping labels and postage indicia (e.g.,to facilitate intelligent querying as described above) and provide thatinformation to status-based management module 114. Logic of status-basedmanagement module 114 may then look to receive information regarding theentry of the shipment into the mail stream within some reasonable periodof time, such as 2 to 3 days, whereby if shipping status query engine112 does not provide information regarding an event indicating that theshipment has been entered into the mail stream logic of status-basedmanagement module 114 may determine that the shipment has not, or maynot have, been shipped. Accordingly, status-based management module 114may initiate an alert to the shipper (e.g., providing item overdue forshipping status information to an application executing upon one or moreof user devices 120A-120D, transmitting an email or text to one or moreof user devices 120A-120D, etc.) to alert the shipper to the situation,such as for investigation by the shipper, for refund processing (e.g.,in the event of a lost or unused value indicia) by the shipper, and/orthe like.

Actions initiated under control of status-based management module 114 ofembodiments are not limited to messages and alerts. Continuing with theforegoing example, logic of status-based management module 114 mayinitiate processing to obtain a refund for the value of an unusedshipping label or postage indicia in accordance with embodiments herein.For example, where a shipping label is not detected has having enteredthe mail stream some predetermined period (e.g., 3 days) after havingbeen generated, logic of status-based management module 114 may initiatean alert to the shipper. Where the shipper does not respond within apredetermined period (e.g., 1 day) that refund processing is notdesired, logic of status-based management module 114 of embodiments mayinitiate automated refund processing.

It should be appreciated that, although the foregoing examples have beenwith reference to events occurring at the initiation of the shippingcycle for a shipment, functionality provided according to the conceptsherein is not limited to the initial shipping cycle phase. Embodimentsof the present invention provide for status tracking and providingappropriate actions through cooperation of shipping status query engine112 and status-based management module 114 throughout the shipping cycle(e.g., from creation of the shipment through delivery of the shippeditems, or until the shipment is considered undeliverable). Accordingly,shippers, recipients, and others may be provided with timely updatedstatus information regarding shipped items and/or provided functionalitybased at least in part on updated status information in operationaccording to embodiments. For example, using information provided byshipping status query engine 112 indicating delivery of the shipment,and information regarding special services for the shipment (e.g., theshipment having been insured), logic of status-based management module114 may provide a message to the shipper to inform the shipper that theshipment has been delivered. Such a combination of the updated shippingevent information and special services information facilitatesintelligent delivery of timely information (e.g., restricting deliveryof certain information to shipments of a certain value or otherwiseindicated as being of particular importance, such as by having beeninsured), without overwhelming a party (e.g., the shipper and/orrecipient) with undesired information for all shipments (e.g.,relatively unimportant or more typical shipments made in very largescale).

Operation of status-based management module 114 of embodiments hereinmay provide for messaging which is more robust than reporting of updatedstatus information for shipments. For example, logic of status-basedmanagement module 114 may analyze the progress of a shipment through themail stream to proactively provide messaging to the shipper and/orrecipient, take other actions with respect to the shipment, etc.Information in addition to the updated status information, such as theshipping service being provided, special services provided with respectto the shipment, historical information regarding the shipping serviceprovider's provision of services, etc., may be utilized by logic ofstatus-based management module 114 for providing such robust messaging.For example, where the level of shipping services are to providedelivery of the shipment within 3 days, logic of status-based managementmodule 114 may analyze the status information provided by shippingstatus query engine 112 in association with shipping servicesinformation indicating that delivery should be achieved within 3 days,perhaps in combination with shipping service provider historicalinformation indicating a typical amount of time to achieve deliveryafter one or more reported events, to determine that a shipment is goingto be delivered late. Status-based management module 114 of embodimentsmay thus initiate messaging to the shipper and/or recipient to alertthem to this situation, perhaps providing an estimation of the actualdelivery date and/or soliciting alternative actions (e.g., delivery to adifferent address, holding of the shipment at a shipping serviceprovider depot, etc.).

Messaging provided according to embodiments of the invention may beadapted to facilitate further actions and/or messaging with respect tothe shipment, the shipper, the recipient, and/or the shipping serviceprovider. For example, an initial message, such as the aforementionedshipment notification message issued when the shipment is determined tohave actually entered into the mail stream may include a link or otherselectable feature allowing the recipient to opt-in to receivingfurther, updated status information regarding the shipment (e.g.,messages regarding the shipment being out for delivery, having beendelivered, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, such a message includesinformation uniquely identifying the shipment and/or recipient, wherebythis unique information may be subsequently utilized to accessinformation managed by shipping management system 111 for facilitatingmessaging and/or other actions as described herein. Additionally oralternatively, a shipper or recipient may provide preference informationto shipping management system 111 (e.g., as may be stored in database113), such as in association with a user account for the shipper and/orrecipient, to establish the level of messaging and/or other actions tobe implemented with respect to shipments by the shipper, directed to therecipient, handled by a particular shipping service provider, and/orcombinations thereof.

Moreover, the actions initiated in accordance with embodiments may notonly be provided for informational or shipping management purposesalone, but may be adapted to optimize the chances for delivery of theshipment. In operation according to embodiments, information regardingspecial services to be provided with respect to the shipment (e.g.,whether signature is required for delivery, whether morning delivery isrequested, etc.), information regarding how a shipping service providerhandles deliveries in the delivery area (e.g., whether the shipment maybe left at an address if no one is there to receive it, whetherdeliveries are to a centralized delivery point or to individualaddresses, etc.), and/or like information in combination with trackinginformation to facilitate successful delivery of shipments. For example,using updated status information herein, shipping management system 111may operate to analyze the progress of shipped item 151 through mailstream 150 and communicate with a shipper and/or recipient to optimizethe chances for delivery of shipped item 151 (e.g., notify the recipientof impending delivery where a signature is required for delivery, notifya shipper where delivery is not possible for particular reasons tofacilitate the shipper contacting the recipient, redirecting theshipment, etc.).

Logic of status-based management module 114 may, for example, monitorevents reported by shipping status query engine 112 throughout theshipment of items to determine when the items are nearing delivery(e.g., detecting when the item has been received at a processinglocation in the mail stream nearest the delivery point, detecting whenthe status is reported as “out for delivery”, etc.) and initiate actionfor facilitating the delivery of the shipped item. For example,status-based management module 114 may initiate a call to the recipient(e.g., placing a call to user device 120D) and/or send an alert to therecipient (e.g., providing a text or email to one or more of userdevices 120A-120D) when it is determined that delivery is imminent in aneffort to ensure that the recipient is available to take delivery. Therecipient may thus be notified of the impending delivery and can takeappropriate action to ensure the delivery is completed, such as toauthorize delivery without recipient's signature (e.g., where therecipient knows they will be unavailable at the time of delivery), askthat the delivery be deferred or not undertaken (e.g., to have thedelivery made on a different day or to allow the recipient to retrievethe shipment at a shipping service provider depot), ask that thedelivery be made to a different location (e.g., where the recipient willbe unavailable but a neighbor or other third party will be available toaccept the delivery), pre-sign a delivery authorization form (e.g., toauthorize drop-off delivery of the shipment), provide specificinstructions for the delivery (e.g., to leave a package on a back porch,to ring the bell at the side door, etc.), and/or the like. Additionallyor alternatively, status-based management module 114 may initiate a callto the recipient and/or send an alert to the recipient when it isdetermined that delivery of the shipped item has occurred (e.g., usingstatus information such as “delivered” provided by shipping status queryengine 112) to make the recipient aware of the delivery in a timelymanner. The recipient may thus be notified of the delivery and can takeappropriate action to allow prompt retrieval/usage of the delivereditem(s), to avoid theft of the item if left at the delivery point, etc.

Although the foregoing examples of initiating messaging or other actionsbased upon monitoring of events reported by shipping status query engine112 are in reference to a recipient, it should be appreciated thatmessaging and/or other actions may be initiated with respect toadditional or alternative parties, such as shippers, shipping serviceproviders, third parties, etc. For example, status-based managementmodule 114 may initiate a call or send an alert to a shipper when it isdetermined that delivery is imminent in an effort to ensure that thedelivery is completed. The shipper may thus be notified of the impendingdelivery and can take appropriate action, such as to call the recipientto remind them that they must be available to sign for the delivery.

Various functionality according to embodiments of the invention may beprovided with respect to particular shipments, shipped items, shippers,recipients, shipped item grade or category, marketplace (e.g., eBay orAmazon Marketplace), etc. For example, the above described actions tooptimize the chances for delivery of a shipment may be initiated withrespect to some subset of shipped items for which shipping management isprovided. Shippers and/or recipients may, for example, establishpreferences whereby shipped items of certain threshold values (e.g.,items or shipments valued at $1,000 or more) and/or for which aparticular level of shipping service or grading is provided (e.g.,overnight shipments or shipments having a relatively high grading) maybe provided the above described functionality to optimize the chancesfor delivery of the shipment.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing, one or more of the messagingand/or actions which may be initiated under control of logic ofstatus-based management module 114 of embodiments may be implementedoptionally. For example, although providing more accurate reporting ofshipment of an item using the above described shipment notificationdelayed for detection of actual entry into the mail stream, embodimentsof the present invention may nevertheless optionally operate to providetraditional reporting for this and/or other aspects of the shippingcycle. As an example, certain electronic marketplaces, such as AmazonMarketplace, may reward/punish merchants based upon meeting certaincriteria (e.g., providing shipment within 48 hours of an order havingbeen placed). Such criteria may be determined differently than theimproved reporting based upon status queries of embodiments of theinvention. For example, such an electronic market place may provide fora shipping deadline being met by generation of a shipping label for thepurchased item (perhaps realizing that the actual entry into the mailstream is, at least to some extent, dependent upon the shipping serviceprovider and is often outside the direct control of the shipper).Accordingly, the more accurate reporting of the item having actuallyentered the mail stream, using the intelligent querying described above,may cause a merchant to receive punishment (e.g., removed as a preferredseller) when the shipping criteria has, in fact, been met. Accordingly,a shipper may select preferences or other settings within shippingmanagement system 111 to elect not to utilize the shipment notificationdelayed for detection of actual entry into the mail stream.Alternatively, embodiments may operate to provide reporting to variousparties (e.g., the electronic marketplace, recipient, shipper, etc.)based upon different status events, such as to report “shipment” havingbeen made the electronic marketplace when a shipping label is generatedand reporting shipment having been made to the recipient when theshipment is determined to have actually entered the mail stream.

Although examples have been provided herein with reference to messagingand/or taking other actions in association with the delivery ofshipments, functionality provided according to the concepts herein isnot limited in application to successful delivery of shipments.Embodiments of the present invention provide for status tracking andproviding appropriate actions through cooperation of shipping statusquery engine 112 and status-based management module 114 when a shipmenthas an exception conditions, such as having been determined to beundeliverable or is refused delivery acceptance (e.g., with respect toan intended delivery address/point). For example, updated statusinformation may be analyzed to determine that a shipment isundeliverable or has been refused and thus is in risk of being returnedto a shipper. Logic of status-based management module 114 may initiatemessaging to the shipper and/or recipient to alert either or both of theimpending situation, to solicit re-routing information (e.g., analternative delivery address), to solicit further handling instructions(e.g., to hold the shipment at a shipping service provider depot forretrieval by the recipient or shipper's agent), to request re-delivery(e.g., when a recipient will be available to accept delivery or after anagent at the delivery point has been instructed to accept delivery),and/or the like. Accordingly, unnecessary return and reshipment of itemsmay be avoided.

Functionality provided according to operation of embodiments of thepresent invention is not limited to periods in which shipped items arein the mail stream. For example, embodiments operate to providepre-shipment status information, such as to provide status informationregarding manufacture of items (e.g., decoration of the item with amonogram has been completed), preparation of items for shipment (e.g.,printed packing slips, packaged items for shipment, photo of packageditems), generation of shipping labels/postage indicia, payment for theorder (e.g., where orders are not paid by the customer until they takeaction), receipt of the order, and/or other pre-shipment events. Logicof shipping status query engine 112 may, for example, operate to queryone or more shipper systems (e.g., order processing system,manufacturing scheduling system, time and materials management system,warehouse management system, etc.) in order to obtain pre-shipmentstatus information with respect to various items. Additionally oralternatively, information available from functionality of shippingmanagement system 111 (e.g., order management, picking and packingmanagement, order fulfilment management, invoicing, report generation,etc.) may be queried or otherwise obtained by shipping status queryengine 112 for providing pre-shipment status information. In operationaccording to embodiments, shippers may input or otherwise directlyprovide pre-shipment status information, or some portion thereof, toshipping management system. Irrespective of how pre-shipment statusinformation may be obtained, embodiments may operate to provide updatedstatus information with respect to various items or orders inpre-shipment (i.e., prior to the items having been shipped). Suchinformation may be utilized to provide pre-shipment status messaging,such as to report that the components to complete an order have now beenreceived at the shipper's facility, that an item of an order is nowbeing manufactured, that an order is being packaged for shipping, thatan order has been packaged and is awaiting courier pickup, etc.Accordingly, embodiments may initiate messaging and/or actions, such asthose described above, throughout the life cycle of an order andshipment to thereby provide a more robust item tracking system than ispossible using tracking functionality presently available from shippingservice providers.

Functionality provided during periods in which shipped items are notactually within the mail stream according to embodiments of theinvention is not limited to a pre-shipment period. Embodiments ofshipping management system 111 adapted according to embodiments hereinmay facilitate post-shipment messaging and/or other actions. Forexample, a recipient may wish to return an item to the shipper (e.g.,due to an incorrect item having been shipped, as part of a liberalreturn policy by the shipper, etc.), wherein the shipper provides freereturn shipping (e.g., the shipper bares the cost of return shipping asa service to customers). Rather than having to include shipping labelshaving pre-paid postage indicia in each shipment (e.g., wherein a largenumber of such shipping labels would presumably go unused) and ratherthan establishing a pre-paid return postage account and program with ashipping service provider (e.g., a process and expense which may beprohibitive to smaller merchants), embodiments facilitate a recipientobtaining return shipping labels and/or postage indicia for a previouslyreceived shipment. In operation according to embodiments, a recipientmay be provided access to shipping management system 111 through any ofuser devices 120A-120D, such as to receive messages (e.g., automatedupdated status messages to inform the recipient of the status of ashipment, such as prepared for shipment, having shipped, in transit, outfor delivery, delivered, etc.) and/or to initiate actions (e.g.,authorize delivery without signature, provide alternate deliveryinstructions, etc.). Such messages may provide the recipient with a linkto access records (e.g., stored in database 113) for the shipmentmanaged by shipping management system 111. Additionally oralternatively, identification information for the recipient (e.g., therecipient's email address used when placing an order with the shipper, arecipient's account established with the shipper and/or the shippingmanagement system, etc.) may be utilized in accessing records for theshipments managed by shipping management system 111. Irrespective of theparticular technique utilized to access the appropriate information forthe shipment within shipping management system 111, the recipient mayrequest and/or initiate generation of a suitable return shipping labeland/or postage indicia, such as at the shipper's expense (e.g., using ashipper postage account accessible to shipping management system 111).For example, the recipient may cause a message to be provided to theshipper requesting a return shipping label, whereby the shipper maycontact the recipient (e.g., to determine if a solution other thanreturn may be provided) and/or authorize generation of a return shippinglabel for printing by a printing resource of the recipient's userdevice. Alternatively, the recipient may be provided the ability togenerate and print such a shipping label, such as where the shipper hasestablished preferences allowing for such actions in association withshipments meeting particular criteria (e.g., threshold item value,selected level of service, class of customer, etc.). Operation ofshipping management system 111 of embodiments may provide tracking withrespect to the return shipment, such as to track the return request,return approval, return in transit, return received by themerchant/original shipper, etc.

Moreover, functionality provided according to operation of embodimentsof the present invention is not limited in application to the shippingservices provided. For example, where the shipped item was purchasedthrough an electronic marketplace (e.g., eBay, Amazon Marketplace, etc.)in which customer feedback plays an important role, messaging providedaccording to embodiments (e.g., providing updated status informationshowing the shipment is out for delivery or has been delivered) mayremind the recipient to interact with an electronic marketplace system(e.g., to provide feedback for the shipper and/or shipped item). Astatus message provided according to embodiments may, for example,include a link or other selectable feature facilitating the recipientsdesired interaction with one or more systems other than shippingmanagement system 111 (e.g., an electronic marketplace system). Itshould be appreciated that such a shipping event status update message,although also containing information beyond that of the shippingservices provided (e.g., a reminder to interact with another system),the message is nevertheless reporting the status of the shipment andthus is expected to meet limitations possibly imposed by a shippingservice provider regarding the use of shipment tracking information. Ofcourse, messaging may likewise be provided to a shipper to facilitatetheir interaction with the recipient, such as to alert the shipper thatthe shipment has been delivered so the shipper may communicate with therecipient to solicit their feedback or other interaction outside of theshipping services provided, according to embodiments of the invention.

System 100 of embodiments of the invention is operable to provide statustracking and facilitating various actions with respect to shipments forwhich management is provided by shipping management system 111 for aplurality of shippers and recipients. Accordingly, shipping managementsystem 111 adapted according to embodiments of the invention may provideaccess to information regarding all shipments for a particular shipperand/or all shipments for a particular recipient, where such shipmentsare under management of the shipping management system. For example, ashipper and/or recipient may utilize shipping management system 111 toobtain updated status information for all shipments associated with theshipper or recipient, respectively. The information for such shipmentsmay be provided individually, such as on a shipment-by-shipment basis,or in consolidated or aggregated form, such as to provide a combinedreport for all shipments from the shipper, all shipments to therecipient, or a combination thereof. Similarly, shippers and/orrecipients may be provided messaging and/or other actions with respectto such shipments, whether individually or in the aggregate, accordingto embodiments of the invention.

Additionally or alternatively, system 100 of embodiments of theinvention is operable to provide status tracking and facilitatingvarious actions with respect to shipments for which management isprovided by shipping management system 111 for a plurality of shippingservice providers, whether for a plurality of shippers and/or recipientsor for individual shippers and/or recipients. Accordingly, shippingmanagement system 111 adapted according to embodiments of the inventionmay provide access to information for a plurality of shipping serviceproviders regarding all shipments for a particular shipper and/or allshipments for a particular recipient, where such shipments are undermanagement of the shipping management system. For example, a shipperand/or recipient may utilize shipping management system 111 to obtainupdated status information for all shipments associated with the shipperor recipient, respectively, for a number of shipping service providers.The information may be provided individually, such as on ashipment-by-shipment basis, or in consolidated or aggregated form, suchas to provide a combined report for all shipments from the shipper, allshipments to the recipient, all shipments handled by a particularshipping service provider, or a combination thereof. Similarly, shippersand/or recipients may be provided messaging and/or other actions withrespect to such shipments, whether individually or in the aggregate,according to embodiments of the invention.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: obtaining, by a processor ofa shipping management system, information regarding a plurality ofshipments of items; identifying, by the processor, one or more shipmentsof items of the plurality of shipments of items for which status queriesare to be made, wherein the one or more shipments of items areidentified based on shipment characteristics and the obtainedinformation; determining, by the processor, timing information forinitiating the status queries with respect to the one or more identifiedshipments of items, wherein the timing information is determined atleast in part based upon the obtained information and rules of a rulesengine, wherein the rules of the rules engine are configured todetermine timings for initiating the status queries with respect toshipped items, and wherein the timings are determined to reduce impacton a shipping service provider system; dynamically adjusting, by theprocessor, timing for the initiating the status queries with respect tothe one or more identified shipments of items, wherein the dynamicallyadjusting is based, at least in part, on an estimated delivery time andon an estimated delivery distance of the one or more shipments of itemsto a delivery destination of the one or more shipments of items;automatically initiating, by the processor, a status query, for ashipment of an item of one or more identified shipments of items, of ashipping service provider system based upon the timing for theinitiating the status queries with respect to the one or more identifiedshipments of items, wherein one or more application program interfaces(APIs) executable by the processor are configured to automaticallyinitiate status queries via interfacing with the shipping serviceprovider system, a shipper system, a manufacturer system, and arecipient system; updating, by the processor, a shipping managementsystem database record for the shipment of the item if the status queryreturns first tracking status information indicating a change intracking status of the shipment of the item; supplementing, by theprocessor, the shipping management system database record based on abulk status report comprising second tracking status information of aplurality of shipments of items, wherein the plurality of shipments ofitems includes the shipment of the item, wherein the supplementingcomprises updating the shipping management system database record forthe shipment of the item based on changes to a tracking status of theshipment of the item included in the second tracking status informationof the bulk status report, and wherein the second tracking statusinformation is updated less frequently than the first tracking statusinformation; and providing, by the processor, one or more notificationsbased on at least one of preferences of a sender, preferences of anintended recipient of the item, and changes detected in tracking statusof the shipment of the item based on the shipping management systemdatabase record.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a panoptically accurate tracking status of the shipment ofthe item using the information returned from the status query andadditional information regarding the shipment of the item, wherein theupdating the shipping management system database record includesproviding the panoptically accurate tracking status to the shippingmanagement system database record, and wherein the panoptically accuratetracking status of the shipment of the item includes tracking statusinformation associated with preparation of the item for shipment priorto the item being placed in a mail stream.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the panoptically accurate tracking status comprises an actuallyshipped status determined from a shipped status reported by the shippingservice provider system and information showing an initial scan of theshipment of the item into the mail stream.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the determining the timing information for the status querycomprises: determining a time offset from an event at which the statusquery is to be made with respect to the shipment of the item, whereinthe time offset is determined at least in part based upon the obtainedinformation.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining thetiming information for the status query further comprises: determining afrequency for subsequent status queries should one or more statusqueries fail to return suitable updated tracking status information,wherein the frequency for subsequent status queries is determined atleast in part based on the obtained information.
 6. The method of claim4, wherein the obtaining information includes obtaining informationregarding a special service to be provided with respect to the pluralityof shipments of items, wherein the time offset is determined at least inpart based upon a special service to be provided with respect to theshipment of the item.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing theone or more notifications comprises providing the one or morenotifications through one or more social media communication channels,and wherein the determining the timing information for the status querycomprises: determining a distance metric with respect to an estimatedcurrent location for the shipment and a location of an intendeddestination for the shipment.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thedetermining the timing information for the status query furthercomprises: determining a class of service for the shipment.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the distance metric is determined using atruncated zip code of the estimated current location and a truncated zipcode of the intended destination location.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the dynamically adjusting the timing for the initiating thestatus queries comprises decreasing a frequency of the initiating thestatus query in response to a predicted reduction in the estimateddelivery distance of the one or more shipments of items to the deliverydestination.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining thetiming information for the status query provides a different statusquery timing for status queries made with respect to the shipment of theitem depending upon a last event reported with respect to the shipmentof the item.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining agrade assigned to each shipment of the plurality of shipments of itemsbased on the obtained information, wherein the timing information isdetermined at least in part based upon the grade assigned to eachshipment of an item of the plurality of shipments of items.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a timing for initiating the status query forthe shipment of the item is based at least in part on a last event inthe shipment of the item, and wherein the last event comprises at leastone of generation of a shipping label for the shipment of the item andgeneration of a postage indicia for the shipment of the item.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the change in a tracking status isassociated with an initial scan of the shipment of the item by ashipping service provider, and wherein the updating the shippingmanagement system database record comprises designating the shipment ofthe item as having actually been shipped.
 15. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining one or more actions based on the rulesof the rules engine and updated information in the shipping managementsystem database record for the shipment of the item, wherein the one ormore actions comprise one or more of determining a time offset for anext query, determining a query frequency for subsequent queries toobtain additional updated tracking status information for the shipmentof the item, initiating a status query to obtain the additional updatedtracking status information, determining a type of the additionalupdated tracking status information to query, determining a system toquery to obtain the additional updated tracking status information, anddetermining a current status from the additional updated tracking statusinformation; and performing the one or more actions.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the performing one or more actions comprises:initiating messaging to at least one of a shipper associated with theshipment of the item or an intended recipient of the shipment of theitem.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the messaging comprises:informing the at least one of the shipper or the intended recipient thatthe shipment of the item has actually shipped after determining that aninitial scan of the item has been performed by a shipping serviceprovider.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the performing one or moreactions comprises: initiating a predetermined action with respect to atleast one of a shipper associated with the shipment of the item or anintended recipient associated with the shipment of the item for ensuringcompleted delivery of the shipment of the item.
 19. The method of claim18, further comprising: determining that the updated information in theshipping management system database record for the shipment of the itemsuggests that the shipment of the item is out for delivery, wherein theinitiating the predetermined action with respect to at least one of theshipper or the intended recipient comprises: notifying the shipper thatthe shipment of the item is out for delivery and facilitating theshipper taking action with respect to the intended recipient to increasea chance that shipment of the item will be successfully delivered to theintended recipient.
 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:performing one or more actions based upon a particular reported statusof the shipment of the item and a failure to detect a particular eventwith respect to the shipment of the item.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the particular reported status of the shipment of the item is ashipped status, the particular event is an initial scan of the shipmentof the item by a shipping service provider, and the one or more actionsis suppressing reporting the shipment of the item as having beenshipped.
 22. A system comprising: a memory; one or more processors; oneor more application programming interfaces (APIs) executable by theprocessors; and a shipping status query engine executable by the one ormore processors and having a set of rules adapted to control querying ofa shipping service provider system for information regarding shippeditem status, wherein the shipping status query engine is configured to:obtain information regarding a plurality of shipments of items; identifyone or more shipments of items of the plurality of shipments of itemsfor which status queries are to be made, wherein the one or moreshipments of items are identified based on shipment characteristics andthe obtained information; determine a timing for which a status query isto be made with respect to a shipment of an item of the one or moreshipments of items based on the set of rules, wherein the set of rulesare configured to determine timings for initiating status queries withrespect to shipped items, and wherein the timings are determined toreduce impact on a shipping service provider system; dynamically adjustthe timing for which a status query is to be made with respect to theshipment of the item, wherein the dynamically adjusting is based, atleast in part, on an estimated delivery time and on an estimateddelivery distance of the shipment of the item to a delivery destinationof the item; automatically initiate the status query for the shipment ofthe item from the shipping service provider system based upon thetiming, wherein the one or more APIs are configured to automaticallyinitiate status queries via interfacing with the shipping serviceprovider system, a shipper system, a manufacturer system, and arecipient system; update a shipping management system database recordfor the shipment of the item if the status query returns first trackingstatus information indicating a change in status of the shipment of theitem; supplement the shipping management system database record based ona bulk status report comprising second tracking status information on aplurality of shipments of items, wherein the plurality of shipments ofitems includes the shipment of the item, wherein the supplementingcomprises updating the shipping management system database record forthe shipment of the item based on changes to a tracking status of theshipment of the item included in the second tracking status informationof the bulk status report, and wherein the second tracking statusinformation is updated less frequently than the first tracking statusinformation; and provide one or more notifications based on at least oneof preferences of a sender of the shipment of the item, preferences ofan intended recipient of the shipment of the item, and the change in thetracking status of the shipment of the item.
 23. The system of claim 22,wherein the shipping status query engine operating to determine thetiming for the status query is configured to determine a time offsetfrom an event at which the status query is to be made with respect tothe shipment of the item, wherein the time offset is determined at leastin part based upon the obtained information.
 24. The system of claim 23,wherein the shipping status query engine operating to determine thetiming for the status query is further configured to determine afrequency for subsequent status queries should one or more statusqueries fail to return suitable updated status information for theshipment of the item, wherein the frequency for the subsequent statusqueries is determined at least in part based on the obtainedinformation.
 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the shipping statusquery engine operating to obtain information regarding shipping an itemincludes operation to determine a grade assigned to the shipment of theitem, wherein the time offset is determined at least in part based uponthe grade assigned to the shipment of the item, and wherein differentshipments of items of the plurality of shipments of items are assigneddifferent grades.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the shippingstatus query engine is further configured to determine a source for atleast a portion of the obtained information.
 27. The system of claim 22,wherein the status of the shipment of the item indicates an event, andwherein the event comprises at least one of generation of a shippinglabel for the shipment of the item and generation of a postage indiciumfor the shipment of the item.
 28. The system of claim 22, furthercomprising: a status-based management module configured to perform oneor more actions based upon updated information in the shippingmanagement system database record for the shipment of the item.
 29. Thesystem of claim 28, wherein the status-based management module operatingto perform one or more actions is configured to initiate messaging to atleast one of a shipper or an intended recipient of the shipment of theitem.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the status-based managementmodule operating to initiate messaging is configured to inform the atleast one of the shipper or the intended recipient of the shipment ofthe item to indicate that the shipment of the item has actually shippedafter determining that an initial scan of the shipment of the item hasbeen performed by a shipping service provider.
 31. The system of claim28, wherein the status-based management module operating to perform oneor more actions is configured to initiate a predetermined action withrespect to at least one of a shipper or an intended recipient of theshipment of the item for ensuring completed delivery.
 32. The system ofclaim 28, wherein the shipping status query engine and the status-basedmanagement module comprise a shipping management system providingmanagement functionality with respect to item shipment by a plurality ofshippers.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the shipping managementsystem further provides management functionality with respect to aplurality of shipping service providers.
 34. The system of claim 32,wherein the shipping management system comprises a cloud-baseddeployment of a shipping management application.
 35. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors toperform operations comprising: obtaining information regarding aplurality of shipments of items; identifying one or more shipments ofitems of the plurality of shipments of items for which status queriesare to be made, wherein the one or more shipments of items areidentified based on shipment characteristics and the obtainedinformation; determining a timing for which a status query is to be madewith respect to a shipment of an item of the one or more shipments ofitems, wherein the timing is determined at least in part based upon theobtained information, a last event in the shipment of the item, and oneor more rules configured to determine timings for initiating statusqueries with respect to shipped items, and wherein the timings aredetermined to reduce impact on a shipping service provider system;dynamically adjusting the timing for which a status query is to be madewith respect to the shipment of the item, wherein the dynamicallyadjusting is based, at least in part, on an estimated delivery time andon an estimated delivery distance of the shipment of the item to adelivery destination of the item; automatically initiating the statusquery for the shipment of the item from the shipping service providersystem based upon the timing, wherein one or more application programinterfaces (APIs) executable by the one or more processors areconfigured to automatically initiate status queries via interfacing withthe shipping service provider system, a shipper system, a manufacturersystem, and a recipient system; updating a shipping management systemdatabase record for the shipment of the item if the status query returnsfirst tracking status information indicating a change in status of theshipment of the item; supplementing the shipping management systemdatabase record based on a bulk status report comprising second trackingstatus information on a plurality of shipments of items, wherein theplurality of shipments of items includes the shipment of the item,wherein the supplementing comprises updating the shipping managementsystem database record for the shipment of the item based on changes toa tracking status of the shipment of the item included in the secondtracking status information of the bulk status report, and wherein thesecond tracking status information is updated less frequently than thefirst tracking status information; and performing one or more actionsbased upon updated information in the shipping management systemdatabase record for the shipment of the item.
 36. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the determiningthe timing for the status query comprises: determining a time offsetfrom the last event in the shipment of the item.
 37. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the determiningthe timing for the status query further comprises: determining afrequency for subsequent status queries should one or more statusqueries fail to return suitable updated status information for theshipment of the item, wherein the frequency for subsequent statusqueries is determined at least in part based on the obtainedinformation.
 38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 35, wherein the last event in the shipment of the item comprises apre-shipment shipment event, and wherein the obtaining informationcomprises obtaining pre-shipment information.
 39. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the pre-shipmentinformation includes at least one of information regarding manufactureof the item, preparation of the item for shipment, or a combinationthereof.
 40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 35, wherein the last event in the shipment of the item comprisesat least one of generation of a shipping label for the shipment of theitem and generation of a postage indicium for the shipment of the item.41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 40,wherein the change in status is associated with an initial scan of theshipment of the item by a shipping service provider, and wherein theupdating the shipping management system database record comprisesdesignating the item has having been shipped.
 42. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the performing oneor more actions comprises: initiating messaging to at least one of ashipper associated with the shipment of the item or an intendedrecipient associated with the shipment of the item.
 43. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein theperforming one or more actions comprises: initiating a predeterminedaction with respect to at least one of a shipper associated with theshipment of the item or an intended recipient associated with theshipment of the item for ensuring completed delivery of the shipment ofthe item.
 44. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 43, further comprising: determining that the updated shippingmanagement system database record for the shipment of the item suggeststhat shipment of the item is out for delivery, wherein the initiatingthe predetermined action with respect to at least one of the shipper orthe intended recipient comprises: notifying the shipper that the item isout for delivery and facilitating the shipper taking action with respectto the intended recipient to increase a chance that the shipment of theitem will be successfully delivered to the intended recipient.